Eilean Donan Castle, Dornie, Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland.
This castle, spectacularly sited on the small island of Donan at the head of Loch Duich, is one of the most popular Scottish castle. The island has been fortified since the Iron Age, and there's evidence of a vitrified fort beneath the foundations. Another ancient remain is the outline of a human foot, carved into the rock. The island and castle are named after Donan, a 7th century Irish priest who was killed on the nearby island of Eigg in 617 AD. Donan came to the west coast of Scotland to try to convert the pagan inhabitants to Christianity. There are two version of his death; one says he was attacked by pirates while saying mass, a note version says he and his 150 followers were burned to death by a Pictish queen. He's traditionally said to be buried at Kildonan, on Arran. The first record of a castle dates to the 13th century, shortly after Alexander III had driven the Norse from western Scotland at the Battle of Largs in 1263. Alexander gave Eilean Donan to Colin Mackenzie, who had fought there. The castle was claimed by the Earl of Ross as well, and the struggle for control went on for decades, then in 1306 the Mackenzies gained favour by offering to shelter Robert Bruce after the Battle of Dail Rhig. Despite the fact that the Mackenzies owned Eilean Donan, the castle is most closely linked to the Macraes, who acted as Constables on behalf of them. The Macraes chief, big Duncan of the Battle Axe, killed the Macdonald's clan champion at the Battle of the Parks in 1488. After that, the Macdonalds raided the castle repeatedly but unsuccessfully. In 1539 the Macdonalds assembled a fleet of 50 ships and besieged the castle. Duncan Macrae fired an arrow and struck the Macdonald's leader, Donald Gormley of Sleat, on the foot, slicing through an artery and causing his death shorty afterwards at Avernish. In 1719, the Spanish crown agreed to help the Jacobite cause and sent 300 soldiers, who managed to take the castle and set up a garrison. But their cause was doomed when 3 English frigates bombarded the castle, destroying it and leaving it a roofless ruin. It was rebuilt only 200 years later.